In short:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n For her PhD, Sylwia Czukiewska examined how healthy human egg cells develop\u2014a crucial process for fertility. She mapped out the factors that influence the development of human egg cells. By comparing her human-based models with results from research using laboratory mice, she showed that human egg cells behave fundamentally differently than those of mice, demonstrating that laboratory mice do not represent the human situation accurately.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> By using new stem cell technologies, Sylwia could study the earliest stages of foetal development without using FCS\u2014a substance commonly used for cell growth, extracted from the blood of a calf foetus. In doing so, she helped her laboratory fully transition to FCS-free cell culture methods.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> Sylwia\u2019s research directly spared mouse lives. She studied 70 cultivated human foetal ovaries; for this, animal testing would have required 560 mouse embryos, sourced from 140 pregnant mice, all of whom would have been killed. Instead of choosing this unfortunately still common route, Sylwia selected research that was not only free from animal suffering but also provided results specific to humans. By completing her PhD, she made a significant contribution to making fertility research animal-free.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> Sylwia\u2019s work was the first large-scale comparison of egg cell development in mice and humans. The fact that, through her research, animal-based materials in her laboratory are now structurally replaced by animal-free alternatives increases the impact of her work even further.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> We believe it is important to support young, progressive researchers in their work. That is why we funded the printing of Sylwia\u2019s thesis with a modest donation of \u20ac250, enabling her to share her discovery. Even small, targeted contributions can help make animal-free science visible.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> Every step, large or small, brings us closer to a world without animal testing. Are you also working towards an animal-free future and, like Sylwia, have something we may be able to help with? Do get in touch.<\/span><\/p>\n Would you like to support our work and enable more such research? \u2192 Become a donor.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Animal-free research into the development of egg cells<\/b><\/h2>\n<\/div>
Entirely free from animal products
\n<\/b><\/h2>\n<\/div>Choosing research that spares mouse lives<\/b><\/h2>\n<\/div>
Our contribution to this unique research<\/h2>\n<\/div>
Supporting young, forward-thinking researchers<\/h2>\n<\/div>
Step by step, working towards change
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